TY - JOUR
T1 - Older adults' driving reduction and cessation
T2 - Perspectives of adult children
AU - Connell, Cathleen M.
AU - Harmon, Annie
AU - Janevic, Mary R.
AU - Kostyniuk, Lidia P.
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by the Michigan Center for Safe Transportation through the Lifespan funded to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and by a Rackham Faculty Allies Award funded to the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Data collection for the parent project that supported this work was sponsored by the General Motors Corporation pursuant to an agreement between the General Motors Corporation and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
PY - 2013/12
Y1 - 2013/12
N2 - Purpose of the Study. Adult children are often directly affected by aging parents' decision to limit or stop driving. This qualitative study examined the process of driving reduction and cessation (DRC) from the perspective of adult children, with a focus on family communication. Design and Methods. Four focus group interviews were conducted with 37 adult children (29/37 female; mean age = 45.5) of older parents using a structured protocol. Transcripts were analyzed by two independent coders to identify major themes. Results. Themes represented three aspects of the DRC process: family communication and dynamics (i.e., discussion, negotiation, and planning; avoidance and side stepping; resignation and refusal), taking action to end a parent's driving career (i.e., engaging a third party; taking away the car), and post-cessation reflection (i.e., relief; social benefits; resentment and guilt). Implications. Despite the potential benefits of planning for DRC, families are unsure about how best to approach this topic. Adult children worry about assuming responsibility for their parents' transportation needs and their parents' reactions to restricted mobility. Despite a reluctance to communicate openly about DRC, adult children and their parents share similar and significant concerns that merit increased attention.
AB - Purpose of the Study. Adult children are often directly affected by aging parents' decision to limit or stop driving. This qualitative study examined the process of driving reduction and cessation (DRC) from the perspective of adult children, with a focus on family communication. Design and Methods. Four focus group interviews were conducted with 37 adult children (29/37 female; mean age = 45.5) of older parents using a structured protocol. Transcripts were analyzed by two independent coders to identify major themes. Results. Themes represented three aspects of the DRC process: family communication and dynamics (i.e., discussion, negotiation, and planning; avoidance and side stepping; resignation and refusal), taking action to end a parent's driving career (i.e., engaging a third party; taking away the car), and post-cessation reflection (i.e., relief; social benefits; resentment and guilt). Implications. Despite the potential benefits of planning for DRC, families are unsure about how best to approach this topic. Adult children worry about assuming responsibility for their parents' transportation needs and their parents' reactions to restricted mobility. Despite a reluctance to communicate openly about DRC, adult children and their parents share similar and significant concerns that merit increased attention.
KW - family communication
KW - focus group interviews
KW - mobility
KW - qualitative
KW - transportation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84887924031&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0733464812448962
DO - 10.1177/0733464812448962
M3 - Article
C2 - 25474824
AN - SCOPUS:84887924031
VL - 32
SP - 975
EP - 996
JO - Journal of Applied Gerontology
JF - Journal of Applied Gerontology
SN - 0733-4648
IS - 8
ER -